? Using U100 insulin with a U40 syringe

[Hilary B]

Hey there,
My cat Blizzard was diagnosed last week. He was originally put on 5 units of Caninsulin twice a day. After his first shot he went hypo and it was quite scary. I now have him on what I thought was 0.5 units of Lantus. However, I was still using the U40 syringes I got from the vet. I've been using them for a few days and just read that I may have been messing with his dose?

How much have I actually been giving him if I have been giving him 0.5 units of Lantus in a U40 syringe?
Thanks!
Hilary

 

[Bandit's Mom]

Hi Hilary

Welcome to FDMB!

My understanding is that U40 syringes have 2.5X the volume per unit as compared to U100 syringes. I think you may have been giving 1.25U of Lantus when drawing 0.5U using a U40 syringe.

But let me tag a few experienced members to confirm that.
@Bron and Sheba (GA)
@tiffmaxee
@Wendy&Neko

 

[Chris & China (GA)]

Hi Hilary! Glad to see you over here from the FB group!

Yes, if you've been drawing to .5 with a U40 syringe, that's the equivalent of 1.25 of Lantus.

 

[Chris & China (GA)]

If you have a WalMart near by, you can get the correct U100 syringes with half unit marks for $12.58/100.

You want 3/10ml, 30 or 31 gauge insulin syringes. The box will look like one of these (packaging differs from place to place)

They will have a purple "stripe" on the box.

 

[Bron and Sheba (GA)]

Just seeing tag. Glad Chris was able to clarify this.

 

[Hilary B]

Thanks everyone! I got the right needles now! No wonder my little was seeing such low numbers.

 

[Sienne and Gabby (GA)]

I'm VERY glad. you have U100 syringes now. Could you put a note on your spreadsheet regarding using the U40 syringes and when you started using the U100 syringes?